46th FIH Congress to be held in New Delhi from Oct 30 to Nov 3

Bhubaneswar, Dec 7 (PTI) The 46th Congress of the
International Hockey Federation (FIH) will be held in New
Delhi from October 30 to November 3 next year.

With former Hockey India chief Narinder Batra being
elected as the first non-European FIH President last year, the
power centre of world hockey seems to have shifted its base
from Europe.

As a matter of fact, it will be the first FIH Congress
under Batra's leadership after he took over the reins of world
hockey from Spaniard Leandro Negre.

The biennial event will run for four days and will
comprise meetings, social events, networking opportunities and
presentations.

The Congress, which will have representations from the
National Associations, will also chart out the future roadmap
of the game, including the ongoing Hockey Revolution, FIH's
10-year strategy to drive hockey's status as a global sport.

The next FIH Congress will hold greater significance as
the game is about to witness a transition phase in 2019 with
the introduction of the world body's ambitious Hockey Pro
League, a new home-and-away league which is expected to
stretch over the first six months of a calendar year.

"Our next Congress will be held in New Delhi from October
30 to November 3. The next Congress is very important for us
as hockey will witness transition in 2019. As part of our
Hockey Revolution, the Hockey Pro League will start in 2019,"
FIH President Narinder Batra told PTI on the sidelines of the
ongoing Hockey World League (HWL) Final, here.

With just one year to go before the HPL actually kicks
off, the project remains a mystery as the FIH is yet to come
out with the details of the tournament.

Another factor which is a concern for many is scheduling
as the Pro League will coincide with the European Hockey
League, the bread and butter for international hockey players.

A few years back, hockey was in danger of being dropped
from the Olympic sport but the FIH chief says the future of
the sport is safe and secured.

"Hockey is not facing any threat. The future of hockey is
safe. In fact, we are witnessing a rise in hockey's
popularity. Hockey has survived and will continue to survive,"
Batra said.

"The game is being played by 170 countries. Yes, all
hockey playing countries doesn't belong to the same level but
the game is in a better position."

With changes and innovations becoming the need of the
hour for any sport, the FIH chief has welcomed Hockey India's
recent experiment with mixed-gender event during its Hockey 5s
National Championships.

He, however, said that trying out a new thing doesn't
necessarily mean the world body is contemplating of
introducing it.

"Hockey 5s mixed event was tried for the first time with
FIH's approval and it turned out to be a huge success," Batra
said.

"Every national association has right to try out new
things with FIH's approval but it doesn't mean the FIH is
thinking of implementing it. FIH is open to national
associations trying out new things like 2 goals for one field
goal rule of Hockey India League.

"We, at FIH, have a technical committee with experts in
it who constantly discuss all these changes. We have a system
in place and we work according to that system," the FIH
President added.

India will also host the men's Hockey World Cup to be
held in Bhubneswar from November 28 to December 16 next year